Please help Identify this locomotive and possible location

[Scott100]

I have the attached photo of what I believe is an ALCO RDS-1. It is supposed to be at a military base (Navy ordnance depot) near Ogden, Utah during WWII. However the USAF marking seems to bring the date into question. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[bnsf971]

The United States Air Force was not created until 1947, so that photo can’t have been taken during WWII, which ended in 1945. These engines were all transferred to USN ownership around 1970, no matter where they were originally intended to be used.
Also, the engines weren’t even built until around 1952, even after the Korean war had wound down.

 

[bcp]

Looks like 8012 was built in 1942 as Atlanta & St Andrews Bay Railroad 903, then requisitioned by the Army and trucks converted, sent to Iran, then sent back to US after the war for service on a military base somewhere.

ALCo RSD-1 locomotives

Railways in Iran – Part 2 – 1910 to 1945

I have been reading old copies of the Railway Magazine from the 1950s and 1960s. The old small format magazines somehow seem more attractive than the glossy larger format modern magazines, perhaps …

rogerfarnworth.com

Bruce

 

[Itsed65]

Hill AFB in Ogden is an Air Force logistics center, so it very well could have been in use there post WW2.

 

[ShePointsIDig]

Another clue on this site: USAF Locomotives Probably built in 1942 right before 8014 (fifth line up from the bottom of the table), but the picture is obviously after the Army Air Corps became the USAF. So after 1947 as Terry said.

That's quite a story about going to Iran. Checkout Bruce's ALCO link.

For every box of ammo expended during WW2 there was a staggering amount of logistics support.

I hope you're dropping crumbs as you wend your way down that rabbit hole...

Art